Will 2016 be the Year of Glasses-Free 3D Display Commercialization?

During the Pioneer Technology Seminar to Overcome Display Industry Crisis (January 14) held in South Korea, Dr. Sung-Kyu Kim of Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) discussed the current issues of glasses-free 3D display and technology development for commercialization. He also revealed related KIST research results.

At present, the 3D display applied to TV can be divided into FPR (film patterned retarder) method and SG (shutter glass) method. Both of these methods require 3D glasses. Regarding this, Kim revealed that the glasses using method could be the biggest factor in hindering the 3D display’s accessibility. Kim announced that glasses-free 3D display development is essential particularly for outdoor advertisement applications.

To increase the accessibility of 3D display, glasses-free 3D display related research, such as holographic and multiview 3D display technology, has long been carried out. Kim revealed that at present the multiview 3D technology is closest to glasses-free 3D display commercialization. He added that the key issue is how much the 4 problems (crosstalk development, quantization effects between viewpoints, reduced resolution, human factor) can be controlled.

In order to solve these problems, Kim applied technology that forms visual field of 4 or more views between eyes and provide same image information in the adjacent area. He emphasized that this was fused with technology that tracks the location of the observer and developed improved glasses-free 3D display. He added that prototype was shown in PyeongChang 2018 Olympics PR venue and Sangwolgok Station in South Korea.

Kim explained problems such as human factor occur for TV and monitor where observers watch for a long period of time and future of 3D display is not bright. However, in advertisement area where people can freely watch, it could be effectively applied. He revealed that he will focus on commercialization this year and expedite development.